BMW's ConnectedDrive brings the whole internet to your car... on EDGE

And you thought puttering around the intarwebz on your EDGE-capable iPhone was bad -- just think of trying to find anything on the 'net while accidentally moseying through a dodgy part of town. Nevertheless, BMW is gearing up to offer "unrestricted access" to the web as an option in any new 2008 vehicle, but alas, it's only for European clients at the moment. Of course, BMW's no stranger to letting bits and pieces of the web into its motorcars, but this creation will let you catch up on the latest gadget news and pre-order the latest Elmo doll from the comfort of your heated seat. Sadly, the service is only available to front seat passengers when the car is moving under 3mph (it's for the best, we know), but your kiddos can surf into all sorts of bizarre chatrooms while seated in the rear. Nothing like a predator tailing you on the autobahn!

[derX @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:37AM]

Wow, this is quite possibly the most humorously written article I've read in a while.

I love the imagery created by "just think of trying to find anything on the 'net while accidentally moseying through a dodgy part of town." I can just imagine someone frantically pressing at the screen while being encircled in a dark, desolate block.

I digg it!

[sk8rpro @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:42AM]

Wow, I'm glad it works only in park. That will save a lot of wrecks.

It's bad enough as it is in the US when videos play in SUV's and other drivers have to avoid looking at the screen.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 23rd 2008 12:08PM]

I don't have a problem with a Computer or Navigation system only allowing you to program it while the car's in park, but, I feel they need to add a switch which allows it to be used when someone is sitting in the passenger seat.

Why should a couple have to STOP on the shoulder to add a destination when the passenger is already free to move about?

And, unless you have a Mercedes S-class, your Navigation system gets tied up when you use a computer Operating system. The S-class fortunately has a second LCD screen in the dashboard. Best car I ever owned.

[Reid @ Feb 23rd 2008 2:06PM]

For some reason Japanese car manufacturers insist on locking out GPS systems entirely when the car is moving -- quite frustrating when you want a passenger to enter something.

Fortunately the Germans (or at least BMW) hadn't given into this insanity, but it sounds like it may be just around the corner...

[frankXchange @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:41AM]

Oh great, because cell phones weren't bad enough. Now you can watch porn as you hurdle down the Autobahn at 120 miles per hour.

Everything seems to be released in Europe first, including stuff from Japan. Why is that?

[sk8rpro @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:44AM]

umm...did you read or is your mind too addicted to porn to even think of what the article said? It works only in park mode

[fanman @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:27AM]

"Everything seems to be released in Europe first, including stuff from Japan. Why is that?"

Because we RAWK.

[James @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:01AM]

It's because they don't want feedback from people that only buy such devices to watch porn on, it would give biased feedback (you would just be rating the pr0n playback capabilities)!

Europe rocks.

:D

[rockintom @ Feb 25th 2008 10:44AM]

""Everything seems to be released in Europe first, including stuff from Japan. Why is that?"

Because we RAWK."

Except videogames.

[frankXchange @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:44AM]

Sorry, didn't read the whole article. You can watch porn and THEN hurdle down the Autobahn at 120 mph.

[testtime @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:58AM]

test time

[derX @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:54AM]

"I porn" --> iPorn --> Apple

hehehe

Porn via iTunes.

[Genjinaro @ Feb 23rd 2008 4:04AM]

Why at EDGE speeds in a business/luxury car? Inexcusable if its not HSDPA/EVDO Rev A or any other form of 3G.

[derX @ Feb 23rd 2008 4:12AM]

Yeah and it's for European release. When the iPhone was released, didn't companies--the carrier in the UK, for one, if I am not mistaken--have to roll out EDGE networks?

With EDGE's limited availabilty and its being antiquated (especially in Europe), I do not see why it's included.

[Marc @ Feb 23rd 2008 4:14AM]

I'm sure it's because of the battery life.

[derX @ Feb 23rd 2008 4:19AM]

xD Nice one, Marc, but where's the WiFi?

...and SDK?

[Brian @ Feb 23rd 2008 5:08AM]

EVDO REV A is the only acceptable radio for the USA, for the $1,000's they'll be charging for this option.

EDGE? Give me a break.

[rento @ Feb 23rd 2008 6:09AM]

EDGE?? pfsk

[Wii60 @ Feb 23rd 2008 6:54AM]

But you can't share your iPorn with more than 5 friends....that would be piracy.

[James @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:59AM]

I've just odered a BMW M Sport with this included - looks impressive :)

[austin @ Feb 23rd 2008 12:33PM]

wtf is an M sport?

[Reid @ Feb 23rd 2008 2:08PM]

Guessing he means a 5er with the sport package

[austin @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:42PM]

exactly. he doesnt know what he is talking about. he is full of shit.

it could be an m coupe too.

[James @ Feb 24th 2008 3:51PM]

Well you all are a bunch of idiots. BMW 325d M Sport, not "M".

Fuck you Austin.

[John @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:03AM]

In all seriousness, what I'd like to see in terms of wireless data in the car is the ability to upload addresses into the navigation system from a browser. Often what I have to do is look up the address online, write it on a scrap of paper, and then enter it into the nav system.

I don't really care about browsing the net on the i-drive system, I'd just like to be able to manage/backup the navigation system address book remotely.

[bob sakamano @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:38AM]

autoblog wrote about this a little bit earlier yesterday...

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/22/geneva-08-preview-bmw-connecteddrive-allows-unrestricted-in-ca/
"
The German automaker chose EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) technology for the internet hook up because it's available on a broad scale (Apple uses it in the iPhone) though slower than what's known as a 3G connection.
"

so cute how they have to spell out these terms to these guys who dont know what they are!

[Leoedin @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:46AM]

Except that it's...umm...not. EDGE is only available in London for the iPhone because it simply was never a standard in the UK. We went from GSM to 3G technologies about 5 years ago!

[Zach @ Feb 23rd 2008 2:04PM]

lucky ducks.

[James Wood @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:45PM]

So, it can play DOOM?

[austin @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:11PM]

will it blend, too?

its old buddy. has been for years.

[james @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:08AM]

So, it can play DOOM?

[nick @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:22AM]

quick someone write an exploit to take over the car!

[Grant @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:04AM]

just thinking that.
how long before someone writes a virus to brick your car?

[Emeka Diribe @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:54AM]

Imagine if it allows you use google maps with the 3d imagery and ofcourse gps to guide you realtime to places.

[michael @ Feb 23rd 2008 12:42PM]

Maybe I can connect to Live Maps with 3D Virtual Earth, to connect to the place I go?

That would be really neat. I think that would be better than the usual GPS devies.

[austin @ Feb 23rd 2008 12:44PM]

hopefully this will come as a dealer-installed add-on for previous iDrive cars. i would love to have it in my 07 328i convertible

[Starvine @ Feb 23rd 2008 2:39PM]

God help the first spoiled teen who makes me wait through a green light because she's checking her MySpace.

[austin @ Feb 23rd 2008 5:20PM]

facebook is the new myspace.
DUH, mister!

[bi0hazard @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:22PM]

sure, its a good idea to make it so that it only works while the car is in park, but what is the person riding shotgun wants to use it? i have this problem with the navigation screen in my lexus

[bi0hazard @ Feb 23rd 2008 3:23PM]

is=if

[ke4sfq @ Feb 23rd 2008 4:25PM]

Luckily there is a hidden key combo to override the disabling on Lexus vehicles so the passanger can use it fully while in motion. Email me bi0hazard if you don't know what it is so you can use it. Works great in my '03 and '05 lexus navigations.

[dir @ Feb 24th 2008 6:51PM]

I had a 5 series for a few years and the entire car communicates on a serial bus. At the time (about 3 years back) there was lots of hacker activity on trying to connect a PC to the bus so that commands could be intercepted and sent. Theoretically, you can have a PC send commands to control the radio, windows, door locks etc. But you could also pretend you're another part of the car and send commands like "I'm the car speed sensor, and we're travelling at 0 kph". It fools things like the touch screen into thinking that it's ok to accept commands because the car's not moving. Pretty simple, really.